JASPER, TX (KTRE) - An officer with the Jasper Police Department donated his remaining G.I. Bill money to help the city with the cost and training of a new K-9 officer.

When it was all said and done, Officer Jared Scoggan’s remaining G.I. Bill money accounted for about $20,000 of the total amount of $23,000.

Scoggan and Einstein, his new K-9 partner, will start their new patrol duties Friday.

Scoggan said he and Einstein, an 18-month-old German shepherd, got back from a school in Carrsville, Virginia, on Sunday. Scoggan said he and Einstein bonded together during the 13-week course at the American K-9 Interdiction facility, where they often trained for eight to 15 hours a day.

“German shepherds are good dogs even though they are a little stubborn,” Scoggan said of his K-9 partner. “They try to outthink everything.”

Einstein is a dual-purpose K-9, Scoggan said. In addition to being able to sniff out drugs, Einstein is trained to assist in criminal apprehensions. He’s also trained in tracking and searches.

After the school, Scoggan and Einstein traveled to Washington, D.C. While they were there, they gave a demonstration to U.S. Rep Brian Babin (R-Woodville), he said.

Einstein came from a North Carolina breeder. Scoggan told KJAS.com that the same breeder trains dogs for several other local., state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

According to a story on KJAS.com, the Jasper City Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of two new dogs for the police department. The move came after Jasper Police Chief Gerald Hall explained to city leaders that Buddy, the city’s lone K-9 officer had been recently euthanized because of health issues.

Scoggan said he served in the U.S. Army from 2008 to 2013. While he was in the service, he served as a military police officer. He added that when he got out of the army, he trained as a paramedic before he decided to get back into law enforcement.

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Digital Content Producer

Gary Bass grew up in Athens, Texas. He started his college career at Texas A&M University in College Station, and he finished up his bachelor’s degree in journalism at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. Gary started working as a web content producer for KTRE in September of 2012.